Colin Kaepernick changed direction on a run in the first half Sunday September 8, 2013. The San Francisco 49ers open their 2013 season with a 34-28 victory against the Green Bay Packers at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif.

Less than a year ago, San Francisco's Colin Kaepernick wasn't a starting quarterback, Seattle's Russell Wilson wasn't an unquestioned star, and the 49ers-Seahawks rivalry wasn't regarded as the NFL's fiercest and most compelling.

Yes, times have changed.

As the 49ers ready to visit Seattle on Sunday night in the first of what could be two NFC Championship Game previews, it's easy to forget that their hard-fought showdowns didn't necessarily move the national needle 11 months ago.

Their series didn't lack for emotion, or a delicious history between Jim Harbaugh and Seattle's Pete Carroll, but it was missing the ingredient every truly great rivalry requires: two battered combatants.

After the 49ers' 13-6 win on Oct. 18, 2012, they had won three straight over Seattle since Harbaugh's arrival in 2011 and were the obvious bully. That victory improved their record to 5-2 a year after they reached the NFC Championship Game. Meanwhile, Seattle, still viewed as a possible pretender, dropped to 4-3 after posting a losing record in 2011.

Since that game, however, 49ers-Seahawks has nearly become the NFL equivalent of Ali-Frazier.

So how did we get from there to here in 11 months? A review:

Oct. 19: Harbaugh, the winning coach the previous night, needed less than 16 hours to get this rivalry kicked up a notch. After his wide receivers had six catches for 63 yards against Seattle, Harbaugh said he'd contact the NFL office about what he deemed too-physical play by Seahawks cornerbacks Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner. Seattle wide receiver Doug Baldwin, who played for Harbaugh at Stanford, found his ex-coach's my-guys-got-bullied stance amusing. Said Baldwin, via Twitter, "Jim said Sherm and BB were playing too rough. Hahahahaha." (Baldwin actually typed as many haha's as Twitter's 140-character limit would allow).

Oct. 24: Sherman, who also played for Harbaugh at Stanford, responded to his complaints about rough play: "Sometimes, man, when the bully gets bullied, that's how that happens."

Dec. 19: A faux-confused Carroll cheerfully responded: "I did go back to look at the film to see what Jim was talking about, and I had trouble seeing why there was a complaint."

Dec. 23: All talk and no action from Seattle? Not anymore. On Harbaugh's 49th birthday, the Seahawks handed him an unwanted gift: His worst loss as a head coach since 2007. The 42-13 thrashing made it clear this rivalry now features two heavyweights. "They came out and were more physical than we were," safety Donte Whitner said. Offered cornerback Carlos Rogers: "It was a punch in the face."

After the game, Sherman and safety Earl Thomas told Yahoo Sports that Harbaugh mockingly honked his horn and waved at Seattle's team bus following the 49ers' win in October. Said Thomas: "It seems like he tries to be a professional in front of the camera, but he does his antics, like that, when the cameras aren't around." Harbaugh terms the story a "fabrication."

March 11: After they posted a combined 22-9-1 record with two of the NFL's brightest young quarterbacks, it was time to reload. On the eve of the first day of the league year, the Seahawks acquired wide receiver Percy Harvin from Minnesota for three draft picks, including a first-rounder in 2013. Advantage, Seattle. Hours later, the 49ers acquired wide receiver Anquan Boldin from Baltimore and surrendered only a sixth-round pick. Edge, San Francisco? Let the arms race begin.

May 17: Seattle defensive end Bruce Irvin was suspended for the first four games of the 2013 season for using performance-enhancing drugs. Shortly after Irvin's suspension was announced, 49ers safety Craig Dahl weighed in on Twitter: "I have no sympathy for violators of NFL drug test. It's easy to know what goes in your body."

June 11: Had Harbaugh noticed five Seahawks have tested positive for PEDs since 2011? Why, indeed, he "definitely" had. In discussing the use of PEDs in general, Harbaugh says he wants his own team to be "above reproach." He sprinkles in some wisdom from his college coach, Bo Schembechler: "If you cheat to win, you've already lost."

June 13: A Seattle sports radio host referenced some of that PED chatter in an interview with Browner, who evidently isn't too fond of Harbaugh either. Said Seattle's cornerback: "He's a coach. He's never going to be out there lined up against me. I wish he would. I'd put my hands around his neck."

July 11: The Seahawks waived wide receiver Charly Martin and signed long snapper Kyle Nelson, who had been waived by the 49ers the previous day. Perhaps they were seeking insight on their rivals?

July 12: The 49ers sign Martin.

Late July: For anyone still wondering if Sherman and Baldwin like their old college coach, Sherman's dad, Kevin, cleared up any confusion in a Sports Illustrated article: "It's a passionate hate," he said.

Sept. 9: A day after Clay Matthews drilled Kaepernick with a late hit in the 49ers' season-opening win, Harbaugh took verbal aim at the Packers' linebacker. Harbaugh zeroed in on what he viewed was an unmanly face slap Matthews delivered to left tackle Joe Staley.

So what, exactly, does this have to do with the Seahawks?

Well, Matthews played at USC - Harbaugh's bitter enemy at Stanford - and his coach was Carroll.

But that's probably just a coincidence. Right?

Dobbs returns after suspension

The 49ers tagged defensive lineman Will Tukuafu as waived/injured on Tuesday to make room for defensive tackle Demarcus Dobbs, who has been reinstated after serving a one-game suspension in Week 1.

Tukuafu, 29, was inactive for the 49ers' season-opening 34-28 win over the Packers on Sunday. Signed to San Francisco's practice squad in 2010, he appeared in 18 games over the past two seasons, playing 44 defensive snaps in 2012.

With the waived/injured designation, the 49ers can place Tukuafu on injured reserve if he clears waivers. They would also have five days to sign him to an injury settlement, which would allow them to re-sign him later in the season. Tukuafu was not on the Week 1 injury report, but a league source said he is dealing with a "knee issue."

Dobbs, 25, was suspended for an off-the-field incident in 2012. On Nov. 30, he was arrested for marijuana possession and DUI when he was involved in a single-car accident around 4 a.m. in Santa Clara. He forfeited $32,647 of his $555,000 base salary while sitting out Week 1.